Niles resident and author Cindy LaBuda credits husband, John ,with being a source of support while she navigated her father’s health after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. LaBuda later joined the Alzheimer Network, a local nonprofit serving Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Mercer counties by providing information and support to people impacted by the disease.

By JOHN PATRICK GATTA

Correspondent

NILES — The devastating effects of a person dealing with Alzheimer’s disease are a slow process that not only impacts the person living with it, but also family members who must confront the deterioration — physically and mentally — of a loved one.

Cynthia LaBuda of Niles dealt with that scenario when her father was officially diagnosed with the mind-robbing disease in 2010.

During his final years, LaBuda, who acted as his firsthand caregiver, relieved some of the stress that built up every day due to good days and bad by putting her thoughts in a journal. After sharing her writing with others, she was encouraged to compile them into a book.

That coalesced into the memoir of her experience — “A Walk in the Dark: A Personal Account of the Alzheimer’s Journey.”

LaBuda, who also is part of the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Network, explained that she felt the work could be a tool for caregivers to combat feelings of isolation and offer awareness.

“As their world changes, the caregivers’ world changes as well. I had a lot of what I felt was information I needed to share — our truth, our reality. If we can help just one family by sharing our story, it would prove to be beneficial.”

She continued, “There are a lot of layers to this disease that need to be learned, from diagnosis to death. Doctors do not have time to educate all that needs to be addressed outside of the patient. And the questions are endless. I still, after nine years, have questions.”

During her father’s initial decline, LaBuda said she attributed those changes to the aging process.

As time went on, though, she realized there was something “not normal.”

“I also got early indications from my mother. She noticed the changes somewhere around 2008 but couldn’t put her finger on what was happening to him,” LaBuda said.

The first “major change” LaBuda realized came when her mother’s health began to decline.

“We were months taking care of her and as she passed, he looked at me and asked, ‘What just happened?’ The two months following her death he didn’t seem to understand that she was gone,” LaBuda said.

She spent months trying to find out what was happening with her father because something wasn’t quite right.

“To me, it was not looking like grief. He was just absent, losing touch with his reality. When mom left, a large part of dad followed her,” she said.

The one-two emotional punch of her mother’s passing and then immediately attending to her father, who she refers to in the book as Papa Joe, took a lot out of LaBuda.

“The process was uncomfortable most times, but it afforded me a learning experience I may have otherwise not experienced,” she said.

Time helped LaBuda work through the emotional toll.

“As with any trauma you learn to deal with it as time goes by. I was diagnosed with PTSD following mom’s passing and two months later dad’s disease. There is no cure, but I have learned to manage it over time. There will always be triggers but you learn to spot the triggers and do what you can to manage until those moments pass,” LaBuda said.

To help recover from traumatic events or memories, she refers to Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR.

Labuda discusses in the book that the lengthy undertaking ended up presenting her with the “gift” of growing closer to God, and a deeper understanding of any lessons learned for her and what it meant for her dad.

“I relied heavily on my faith,” she said. “It is essentially what gets you through this journey. If I got to the end of the day with no ‘events,’ I thanked God for the successful day.”

SOURCES OF SUPPORT

Labuda worked as a hairdresser for 41 years but with her father’s situation, she left that position to be a full-time caregiver as well as working closely with hospice personnel to guarantee that her dad received the best care possible.

“I was incredibly thankful for the support of my husband. Endless. Everything can be a gift if you choose to look at it that way,” she said.

Five years following his diagnosis, LaBuda’s father died Aug. 1, 2015.

As that journey ended, LaBuda moved on to support others.

“I had zero knowledge of this disease at diagnosis. I feel it’s tremendously important to share your story with others. It makes us much better caregivers to at least have a basic knowledge of the many intricacies of this disease. There is a lot you need to be aware of.”

APPLYING EXPERIENCE

She eventually joined the board of the Alzheimer’s Network, a local nonprofit serving Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Mercer counties. The organization has in-person support groups and educational seminars that include legal and financial information.

“I’m not a fan of the term ‘advocate’ simply because we all have the ability to share through our experiences to hopefully make the next person’s experiences a little easier and less traumatic,” LaBuda said. “Also, this helps with the feelings of isolation, and, maybe, make a new friend in the process. God works in mysterious ways.”

Although her book has been published, LaBuda said that she continues to gain additional insight about Alzheimer’s disease.

“I’m still learning patience. It seems as though patience is everyone’s lesson. I have sustained peace knowing God is by my side. How precious life and love are never to take for granted. I am truly grateful for great health. We have nothing without it.”

“A Walk in the Dark” can be purchased online.

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